And I thought I’d write just a sentence

01. And I thought I’d write just a sentence

These days:

Maybe you’ve noticed. Maybe you haven’t – god knows we’ve all got better things to do than check randomly updated blogs of pals, sewists, or restless hearts – but if you have noticed the infrequency of my posts then yes, I’m only flap tapping these days when I have something to share, a little something to say. These days -I’m a bit like a magpie with a mended broken wing, more reserved and a little less fool-hardy from the fall.

It’s a joke amongst friends – how I live under a rock for most parts when it comes to musical, or pop cultural items. So I recently found this version of a song & I’ve been tickled pink (except that iTunes seems to not have it for purchase). The rest of you probly found it in 2001 -when it won a grammy. Under A Rock I tell you.

I’ve got it reverberating in my thumping wee heart. Interesting how sometimes we aren’t moved by a creation of art until it’s taken and molded into a different & same thing. I think musicians are so much better at sharing than the rest of us artists.

The video & the way she sings it makes me remember what I love & miss about home. I’m playing it on repeat. I do that. I fall hard for a song and then I drive my dog to drink from playing it over & over.

Speaking of that – have y’all heard of this? It all started from good southern whiskey from what I’ve gathered…

Photo “Starlings Above a Cornfield at Dusk, Mississippi” in the collection of The Southern Route Photos and Words byTamara Reynolds Found on a fabulous site/ project/ community: The Bitter Southerner

I love this dude & his compatriots who have founded a much needed website & dare I say, movement?

In his well written & lengthy explanation of The Bitter Southerner (which you know I love) he says this:

“It always comes down to that last bit: With all our baggage, how do we live at all?”

Yes sir. And whilst I don’t find myself “bitter” exactly. I do find myself riled on occasion, frequently enough now that I am an expat that I’m thinking of getting a tshirt from their general store.

I got lost in the essays during my first visit to the site. And dang if I didn’t discover it from clicking a link to a link to a link from fluffy Pinterest- following that South shirt all the way home.

I’m painting Skies. I love a western sky. Cloud rises really. I don’t care that it’s fluffy bunny and that galleries won’t be calling any time soon. I’m in this for the love of the light.

I’m sketching for UA. I keep thinking one day I’ll grow up and know exactly what I’m about but that’s a lot of hot air isn’t it? I wish I was taught as a kid that we never grow up – we just try things, know more, find out we know less, put another foot in front of the other & sometimes it turns out that moved us forward and sometimes it turns out it just moved us around and around.

I’d say the secret to living well is to try things, put your whole self into them, fall down, get up as gracefully as you can, or messily too -but be honest about it, try something again. Try to put your whole self in again. Pray. Scream. Keep on.

I’ve bought a bit of beautiful fabric. I like offering a precious few fine things. It takes me some time to figure how to use fine threads in a way that makes them timeless, that heirloom quality both loud & elusive.

That’s my lately. A foot in front of the other. We’ll see where it leads.

02. Heirloom days | In the studio

I’ve been perfecting my favorite shirting pattern. Once it’s absolutely right the hunt will start for the perfect linen fabric. It’s slow sewing. This piece has 31 small buttons & hand picked stitching. But it’s The One -The perfect linen shirt with heirloom details & old fashioned leanings.

It needed a beautiful bias wrap printed organza skirt. The floral pattern is super pale and can only be seen if you’re trying. Wouldn’t this be the loveliest bridal skirt? Worn with a bright slip would change it entirely (and the floral pattern would be more apparent). It ties with a wide silk satin ribbon waistband.

This one of a kind skirt will be in the shop update next week. See more of it then.